Tear meniscus measurement by spectral optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Dry Eye Disease Research

Background:

• Dry eye syndrome is a prevalent condition affecting ocular surface health.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on various clinical tests, including Schirmer test and tear break-up time.
• Quantitative tear evaluation methods are crucial for objective diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of lower tear meniscus measurements using anterior segment Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
• To determine the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of different tear meniscus parameters for dry eye syndrome.
• To correlate OCT-derived tear meniscus measurements with established clinical tests and patient-reported symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 111 eyes from 111 patients underwent Spectral OCT for tear meniscus evaluation.
• Measurements included tear meniscus cross-section area (TMA), tear meniscus height (TMH), and tear meniscus depth (TMD).
• Standard ophthalmic examination, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear break-up time, and Schirmer tests were performed.

Main Results:

• TMA and TMH showed the highest correlation with Schirmer test results (Spearman's rho = 0.54 and 0.52, respectively).
• TMA, TMH, and TMD measurements were significantly lower in patients with dry eye compared to controls.
• Tear meniscus height (TMH) demonstrated 80.56% sensitivity and 89.33% specificity; TMA showed 86.11% sensitivity and 85.33% specificity for dry eye diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Lower tear meniscus parameters measured by Spectral OCT correlate well with the Schirmer test, tear break-up time, and subjective dry eye symptoms.
• Tear meniscus area (TMA) and tear meniscus height (TMH) offer high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing dry eye syndrome.
• Spectral OCT provides a valuable quantitative tool for evaluating tear film and diagnosing dry eye disease.